HAZARDOUS VEGETATION AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE INSPECTION NOTICE FOR UPPER APACHE NEIGHBORHOOD
To all Upper Apache Property Owners,
Your property is included on the Defensible Space Program inspection list for 2023.
In collaboration with the El Dorado County Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, the Lake Valley Fire Protection District is conducting Defensible Space inspection in the Upper Apache neighborhood. The District is requesting your assistance in the creation of defensible space and fire hazard reduction on your respective property. The El Dorado County Defensible Space Program inspection criteria and associated guides are included here. To learn how to protect your home from wildfire, click here.
FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION and DEFENSIBLE SPACE
In accordance with El Dorado County Ordinance 5101, Chapter 8.09, improved parcels and designated unimproved parcels located in unincorporated El Dorado County are required to perform fire hazard reduction and defensible space clearance of at least 100 feet from all habitable structures. Lake Valley Fire Protection District Inspectors under a contract with El Dorado County will be conducting inspections in the Upper Apache neighborhood. Inspectors will attempt to meet with you while conducting inspections. If we are unable to leave a notice, a notice will be mailed to you.
COMMUNITY MEETING
You are welcome to attend an informational meeting anytime between 6:00pm – 8:00pm on August 23, 2023. Please see location and address below:
Lake Valley Fire District Station 7
2211 Keetak Street
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
If you have questions for El Dorado County, please call 530-621-4663 or send an email to [email protected]. If you have any questions for Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Please call 530-577-2447 or send an email to Nathan Lester at [email protected].
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded two grants totaling $4,627,000 to build partner capacity for forest and wildfire resilience projects across the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin:
A $3,302,500 grant will build the capacity of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue to plan and oversee projects to reduce wildfire risk on the south shore.
A $1,324,500 grant will fund the Tahoe Resource Conservation District to provide professional forestry services to complete environmental review and prepare prescriptions and layout for forest resilience projects.
“The Caldor Fire showed the importance of reducing hazardous fuels on forested lands in our communities,” said Fire Chief Chad Stephen with the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. “These grants will help us protect our communities by increasing the pace and scale of forest management.”
Lake Valley Fire, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, and the Tahoe RCD will base their work on a list of priority fuels reduction projects to be identified through the Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Using funding from a 2022 Conservancy grant, Basin partners are currently updating the CWPP. These fuels reduction projects will help reduce wildfire risk for Tahoe communities and restore the resilience of Basin forests and watersheds to climate change impacts. Work funded by this grant will help achieve a goal of the 2019 Lake Tahoe Basin Forest Action Plan to complete initial treatments on 22,000 acres of forest within the wildland-urban interface in the Basin by 2025.
Tahoe RCD will use the grant funds to provide professional forestry services, completing environmental review, developing project-specific prescriptions to manage trees and brush, identifying project boundaries, and marking trees for removal on local government and private lands on the California side of the Basin.
“A scarcity of professional foresters has become a barrier to getting Basin forestry projects implemented quickly enough,” said Mike Vollmer, Executive Director for Tahoe RCD. “Tahoe RCD is excited to assist Tahoe fire districts and other partners in getting these important projects planned, permitted, and implemented.”
The grant funds will enable Lake Valley Fire and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue to serve for five years as project managers for the priority fuel reduction projects on local government and private lands on the south shore. The fire agencies will coordinate with private and public landowners, including securing land use agreements needed for implementation. The fire agencies will also collaborate with Basin partners to secure funding to implement the shovel-ready projects following environmental review.
“By partnering, our agencies can work faster together to make our forests more resilient to wildfire across a range of public and private lands,” said Fire Chief Jim Drennan of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue. “These efforts will leave our communities better protected.”
Funding for these grants comes from the State of California’s 2021 wildfire package and from a Regional Forest and Fire Capacity grant provided by the California Department of Conservation. Regional Forest and Fire Capacity grants advance the goals of the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force, which include supporting activities that build local capacity, help plan and prioritize where to reduce hazardous fuels, and decrease the potential for future high-intensity wildfire.
Media contact: Chris Carney, Communications Director, [email protected], 530-543-6057
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The California Tahoe Conservancy is a state agency, established in 1985, with a mission to lead California’s efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Learn more at tahoe.ca.gov.
The State of California suspended Burn Permits in Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Eastern Sacramento, and North-Eastern San Joaquin Counties as June 26, 2023. Per Lake Valley Fire local ordinance No. 2022-01, the District prohibits open burning on all lands within the District boundaries within 24 hours of the State restrictions.
Please see Ordinance Section 307.4.4 “Open Burning Restrictions” and Section 202 “Definition of Open Burning”.
Section 307.4.4 Open Burning Restrictions. Open burning on all lands within the jurisdiction of the LAKE VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (LVFPD), including the Local Response Area (LRA), is prohibited when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) issues a burn suspension in the State Responsibility Area (SRA). This prohibition shall be made effective 24-hours following its commencement in the SRA.
Open burning is also prohibited on all lands within the jurisdiction of LVFPD at any time the fire code official that atmospheric conditions or other local circumstances make such fires hazardous, including factors such as high winds, low fuel moisture, fire weather, the issuance of red flag warnings, the severe threat of wildland fire, or present risk of destruction by wildfire to life, wildlife, property, or natural resources.
SECTION 202 “OPEN BURNING”
OPEN BURNING. The burning of materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. Open burning does not include road flares, smudge-pots and similar devices associated with safety or occupational uses typically considered open flames. For the purpose of this definition, a chamber shall be regarded as enclosed when, during the time combustion occurs, only apertures, ducts, stacks, flues or chimneys necessary to provide combustion air and permit the escape of exhaust gas are open.
Open burning shall also include campfires, bonfires, portable outdoor fireplaces, ceremonial fires, and recreational fire as defined in the Fire Code.
Exception:
UL or ASMI listed LPG or natural gas outdoor flame devices, such as gas BBQ’s or gas fire pits that comply with the Fire Code.
For one-or two-family dwellings, fixed or portable outdoor flame devices that meet the following:
Devices shall comply with the Fire Code.
Devices shall be used per the manufacturer’s specifications.
Minimum 10-foot clearance from device to all flammable material and vegetation.
No burning shall be conducted during high or extreme fire weather conditions (e.g., National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings).
Campfires on private lands. Where required by the fire code official, a permit shall be issued by the fire code official.
Ceremonial and/or religious burning with the following safety measures:
Maximum 4-foot x 4-foot burn area.
Minimum 10-foot clearance from the edge of the burn area to all flammable material and vegetation.
An approved water supply is located within 500 feet of the burn area.
The burn area is located no less than 30 feet from adjoining property lines.
An adult is present with a shovel until the fire is extinguished.
No burning shall be conducted during high or extreme fire weather conditions (e.g., National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings).
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is currently accepting applications for a new job opening from qualified individuals for the position of Fire Safety Inspector I. The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill a new position. Under the direct supervision of the Fire Prevention Captain, with a 40-hour staff assignment to Fire Prevention, the Fire Safety Inspector I will perform a variety of tasks relating to Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction including:
Conduct Defensible Space Inspections in accordance with Chapter 8.09 of the El Dorado County Codes and Ordinances;
Mark fire hazard trees in accordance with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA);
Conduct Vacation Home Rental (VHR) inspections for compliance with Chapter 5.56 Vacation Home Rental Ordinance;
Conduct general business and other fire and life safety inspections
Organize and conduct public education, community outreach, and fire prevention activities;
Participate in Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) Fire Prevention Information Team (PIT);
Assist the Public Information Officer (PIO) as needed with social media and website postings;
Develop and prepare reports regarding activity for the inspection program, and shall perform database entry and support database management to ensure quality of record keeping;
Maintain knowledge and competency of current trends in the field;
Performs additional collateral duties as assigned;
Minimum Requirements
High School diploma or equivalent;
California Class C Driver License or equivalent;
Current CPR certification to the Health Care Provider level (required 120 days after employment).
California State Fire Marshal Courses (required 6 months after employment):
Fire Inspector 1A; Duties and Administration
Fire Inspector 1B; Fire and Life Safety
Fire Inspector 1C; Field Inspection
Fire Inspector 1D; Field Inspection – California Specific
Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness
California State Fire Marshal Certification and Course for Home Ignition Zone and Defensible Space Inspector or equivalent training and experience (required 120 days after employment).
Preferred and Desired Qualifications
Associates Degree in Forestry or Fire Science or a related field and/or a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts Degree in any field;
OSFM Fire Inspector I Certification or equivalent
International Code Council Fire Inspector I certification or equivalent Statutes and Regulations
TRPA Training – Pre-TRPA process, Hazardous tree identification, marking and removal permit process
NWCG Wildland Firefighter and Incident Command System ▪ S-110, 130, 190 ▪ Introduction to ICS (I-100)
Examination and Selection Process
The examination process shall include the following:
Application Review
Oral Interview
Chiefs Interview
The tentative test dates are the week of June 10, 2023. Applicants who are offered employment are subject to a Live Scan, background investigation, and a drug/alcohol screening and physical assessment. Employment is contingent upon passing the Live Scan, background investigation, and the drug/alcohol screening.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should complete the District application available on our website https://lakevalleyfire.org/documents/. Submit the completed application, attach a letter of interest, resume, and copies of required and applicable certifications. All required material must be submitted in person or by mail. Applications may also be emailed to [email protected].
Compensation and Benefits
Where applicable, salaries and benefits are per current Wages and Benefits Policy Manual: Effective 11/12/20.
Medical Insurance premiums are not paid for by the District although personnel may choose and can purchase their own health care coverage tax deferred through the District.
Additional Benefits:
Public Employees Retirement System – retirement benefits based on PEPRA miscellaneous employee 2% at 62
District pays 100% of the employer portion and employee pays 100% of the employee portion – No cost share
Vacation accrual (4.4 hours per bi-weekly pay period)
Holidays (13 holidays annually)
Sick leave (4.4 hours per bi-weekly pay period)
Compensatory Time Off (CTO) (maximum accrual – 240 hours)
Vision Care Plan ($300 per year per employee and family members)
Additional Information
Schedule: This position requires a minimum of 40 hours per week.
Probation: This position has no probationary period, the employee is classified as at will.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA – In recognition of National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 6, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is encouraging people and organizations everywhere to come together to take action, raise awareness, and reduce wildfire risks. The TFFT is stressing the importance of wildfire preparedness throughout the year to continue protecting communities and Lake Tahoe’s environment from the increasing risk of wildfire. Lake Tahoe has seen firsthand how important it is to be vigilant, be prepared for evacuation, and work together to create defensible space and thin overstocked forests.
“After decades of fire suppression, the Tahoe Basin’s forests are overstocked and highly vulnerable to insects, disease and catastrophic wildfire,” said TFFT Incident Commander and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Division Chief Isaac Powning. “We rely on firefighters, land managers, and the public to all work together to protect our communities and ecosystem from damaging wildfires.”
In 2022, TFFT partners reduced fuels on more than 2,500 acres and completed a record 7,962 inspections to help property owners create defensible space around homes and businesses.
Along with TFFT’s work, the community has a critical role in wildfire preparedness. Next Saturday, May 13, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue will host the 6th annual Wildfire Safety Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Tahoe Middle School, 2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The Wildfire Safety Expo is a fun, free, community event to provide information on how to be fire-safe during this upcoming wildfire season.
And on May 23, North Shore fire agencies will host a community wildfire preparedness workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Lake Tahoe Event Center, 8313 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, Calif. The event will educate, inspire, and build fire-adapted communities and Firewise neighborhoods in the North Tahoe Region. Sign up here to attend or visit tinyurl.com/wildfireworkshop.
The TFFT is also urgently requesting public feedback on the Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) survey. These plans help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and increase the resilience of communities to natural disasters. To complete the quick survey, visit arcg.is/8zKGr0.
“This survey is an opportunity for fire districts to hear from community members about concerns and priorities related to wildfire risk reduction. Community input will help guide the update of community wildfire protection plans and ensure that they reflect the needs and values of communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin,” said Cheyanne Neuffer, the CWPP Program Coordinator at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District also manages the Fire Adapted Communities Program and has assisted neighborhoods throughout the region to become certified in the program. Contact the district for more information.
Forest health is one of the focus areas of the Environmental Improvement Program, a collaborative partnership of over 80 public and private organizations committed to achieving the environmental goals of the region. Since the EIP’s inception in 1997, TFFT partners have treated more than 92,000 acres of forest to reduce hazardous fuels. The full list of projects is available at eip.laketahoeinfo.org.
“These fuel treatments have proven themselves invaluable. During the Caldor Fire we saw flames 150 feet tall in untreated areas that shrunk to 15 feet tall when they reached a treated area in Christmas Valley,” said Captain Martin Goldberg of Lake Valley Fire. “This meant that our firefighters could engage the fire and protect the nearby homes. If that area hadn’t been treated, we may have seen a very different outcome.”
This year, TFFT partners plan to exceed the 2,500 acres treated in 2022, especially near power lines and neighborhoods. On the East Shore, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team will be treating about 450 acres near Marlette Lake, which will complement the work by NV Energy to create resilient corridors along NV Energy’s electrical lines on all lands. Liberty Energy will be doing similar resilience corridor work throughout their service area on the South Shore. Crews will be working to reduce hazardous fuels in Van Sickle Bi-State Park this summer, and South Tahoe Public Utility District will be conducting projects to protect water infrastructure in case of wildfire. The North Tahoe Fire Protection District will reduce hazardous fuels on at least 300 acres within North Tahoe and Meeks Bay Fire Protection Districts.
Protecting Lake Tahoe communities from damaging wildfire and restoring ecosystem resilience requires agencies and communities to work together. Maintaining defensible space and landscaping with native plants complements larger forest health projects and helps create a safer and more resilient Lake Tahoe Basin. By working together, Lake Tahoe’s communities and environment will be better protected throughout the year.
Photo NLTFPD Chipping3.jpg Caption: Many fire districts at Lake Tahoe offer free services such as curbside chipping and defensible space inspections that improve safety for firefighters and the community.
Photo Credit: North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
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About the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, CAL FIRE, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, University of California and Nevada Cooperative Extensions, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and engaging the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
